An examination of events leading to the striking would suggest that some of the human factors identified in the TSB safety study on the operational relationship between ships' personnel and pilots are relevant to this incident. There was ongoing miscommunication, leading to misunderstanding, between the pilot and the tugs as to what was required by, or being done by, the other person. Also, the master and officers were inactive bystanders who watched the ship getting closer to, and finally striking, the dolphin, but did nothing. Proper cooperation and communication with the pilot would have allowed the ship's personnel to keep the pilot apprised of the distance off the dolphin, allowing him to better judge the approach to the berth. There is no clear explanation as to why the pilot would not have heard the tug master's warnings of the closing distance when others in the vicinity heard them. It is possible that other sounds (radio interference) on his hand-held radio could have prevented him from hearing the tug master's warnings.Analysis An examination of events leading to the striking would suggest that some of the human factors identified in the TSB safety study on the operational relationship between ships' personnel and pilots are relevant to this incident. There was ongoing miscommunication, leading to misunderstanding, between the pilot and the tugs as to what was required by, or being done by, the other person. Also, the master and officers were inactive bystanders who watched the ship getting closer to, and finally striking, the dolphin, but did nothing. Proper cooperation and communication with the pilot would have allowed the ship's personnel to keep the pilot apprised of the distance off the dolphin, allowing him to better judge the approach to the berth. There is no clear explanation as to why the pilot would not have heard the tug master's warnings of the closing distance when others in the vicinity heard them. It is possible that other sounds (radio interference) on his hand-held radio could have prevented him from hearing the tug master's warnings. There was mis-communication between the tugs and the pilot with respect to the swinging manoeuvre and the distance off the berth. The vessel continued to close with the wharf while swinging to align with the berth. Even as the vessel closed with the dolphin, the master and crew of the HoeghMerit relied totally on the pilot executing the berthing manoeuvre. There was inadequate consultation and planning of the berthing manoeuvre between the ship's personnel, the pilot and the tugs.Findings There was mis-communication between the tugs and the pilot with respect to the swinging manoeuvre and the distance off the berth. The vessel continued to close with the wharf while swinging to align with the berth. Even as the vessel closed with the dolphin, the master and crew of the HoeghMerit relied totally on the pilot executing the berthing manoeuvre. There was inadequate consultation and planning of the berthing manoeuvre between the ship's personnel, the pilot and the tugs. The HoeghMerit struck the dolphin at the extremity of the pier while berthing in Nanaimo, B.C. because the vessel closed with the wharf before the swinging manoeuvre was completed. Miscommunication between the pilot and tugs contributed to the striking.Causes and Contributing Factors The HoeghMerit struck the dolphin at the extremity of the pier while berthing in Nanaimo, B.C. because the vessel closed with the wharf before the swinging manoeuvre was completed. Miscommunication between the pilot and tugs contributed to the striking.